Blackrocks Brewery

What Blackrocks Brewery does

Blackrocks Brewery is a privately held craft brewery founded in 2010 by David and Andy in Marquette, Michigan. The company operates a two-site brewing footprint: the original 1 BBL nano-brewery inside its taproom at 424 N. Third Street, and a separate 20 BBL production facility in Marquette that supports packaged and keg distribution. Its portfolio spans year-round core beers (51K IPA, Mykiss IPA, Grand Rabbits, Super Deluxe), seasonal and limited releases (Honey Lav, Six Sprocket, Razzle Rabbits, Hiawatha Ale, Starman, Presque Ale, Nordskye, Porch Cat, Ray's Fiesta Time, Float Copper, Oktoberfest), a pub-exclusive Sauna Lager, and a non-alcoholic sparkling hop water called Day Groover.

The business model blends direct-to-consumer and wholesale revenue streams. On the consumer side, the brewery runs a taproom with multiple draft taps, food trucks, and live music programming, supported by a Mug Club 2.0 loyalty program ($50 handmade ceramic mug plus $50 annual renewal). Distribution is regional: packaged 6-packs and kegs flow through Michigan distributors and party stores statewide and into roughly half of Wisconsin (central/eastern), with on-premise placements at bars and restaurants. Merchandise is sold both in the pub and online through Blackrocks Goods, and ticketed community events (monthly live music series, Oktoberfest, Endless Summer Festival, special release parties) supplement revenue.

The company serves craft beer enthusiasts and local/regional retail consumers across Michigan and Wisconsin, with a particular emphasis on community-driven experiences, Michigan-sourced ingredients (e.g., Michigan honey and lavender), and local artisan collaborations (e.g., handmade mugs by potter Ryan Dalman, Wildcat Gold Lager co-branded with the NMU Alumni Association). Marketing is event-led rather than digital-performance-led, leaning on live music, festivals, and word-of-mouth in a tight Upper Peninsula market. No external funding, parent company, or institutional ownership is disclosed, and the founders remain operationally involved.

Name

Blackrocks Brewery

Legal name

Blackrocks Brewery

Website

https://blackrocksbrewery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blackrocks Brewery is a privately held craft brewery founded in 2010 in Marquette, Michigan, operating a taproom and a 20 BBL production system that distributes year-round, seasonal, and limited beers plus a non-alcoholic sparkling hop water across Michigan and half of Wisconsin. It serves craft beer enthusiasts through its pub, Mug Club 2.0 loyalty program, regional retail and on-premise distribution, events, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

Keywords

• Craft brewery
• Craft beer production
• Taproom pub
• Keg distribution
• Brewery merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Marquette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. On-premise Beer Sales: Direct sales of draft beer at the pub, with specific operating hours Monday-Sunday. The pub features multiple taps with rotating seasonal and limited release beers.
2. Packaged Beer Sales: 6-pack sales available both at the pub and through distribution. Some beers like Coconut Brown and Sauna Lager are limited to pub-only 6-pack sales.
3. Keg Sales: Keg sales through distributors and party stores across Michigan and Wisconsin markets.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online shop at blackrocksgoods.com and in-pub merchandise sales including apparel and other branded goods.
5. Mug Club Memberships: Mug Club 2.0 with $50 initial mug purchase plus $50 annual membership renewal. Provides dedicated mug storage and community benefits.
6. Event Revenue: Revenue from ticketed events such as the Go Rounds concert and special release parties. Some events like the Big Air show have $10 ticket prices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Blackrocks Brewery brews and serves a portfolio of craft beers at its Marquette, MI pub and produces packaged beer and kegs for wholesale distribution across Michigan and roughly half of Wisconsin. It sells branded merchandise through an online storefront (Blackrocks Goods) and at the pub, and operates a Mug Club membership program tied to handmade ceramic mugs plus recurring live music events and festivals.

Product overview

Blackrocks Brewery is a craft brewery founded in 2010 in Marquette, Michigan, operating both a nano-brewery (1 BBL) at the original pub on 3rd Street and a 20 BBL production system. The brewery offers a portfolio of beers including year-round core offerings (51K IPA, Mykiss IPA, Grand Rabbits, Super Deluxe), seasonal releases (Honey Lav, Six Sprocket), limited editions (Razzle Rabbits, Hiawatha Ale, Starman, Presque Ale, Nordskye, Porch Cat, Ray's Fiesta Time, Float Copper, Oktoberfest), pub-exclusive selections (Sauna Lager), and a non-alcoholic sparkling hop water (Day Groover). The company also sells merchandise through its Blackrocks Goods online shop. Distribution covers all of Michigan and about half of Wisconsin (central/eastern).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 51K IPA Year-round American IPA brewed by Blackrocks Brewery, sold at the pub and through retail distribution in Michigan and Wisconsin.
• Mykiss IPA Year-round IPA from Blackrocks Brewery available on tap, in 6-packs at the pub, and through regional distribution.
• Grand Rabbits Year-round Cream Ale brewed by Blackrocks Brewery for on-premise and wholesale customers.
• Super Deluxe Year-round German-style Helles lager brewed by Blackrocks Brewery.
• Honey Lav Summer seasonal American Wheat ale brewed with Michigan honey and full lavender flowers, available April–September at the pub and through distribution.
• Six Sprocket Seasonal Black Ale from Blackrocks Brewery, brewed as part of the seasonal rotation.
• Razzle Rabbits Limited release Raspberry Cream Ale from Blackrocks Brewery, released as a standard limited offering.
• Hiawatha Ale Limited release Kölsch Ale from Blackrocks Brewery, released as a standard limited offering.
• Starman Hoppy limited release American Pale Ale from Blackrocks Brewery.
• Presque Ale Limited release Summer Ale from Blackrocks Brewery, available May–August.
• Nordskye Hoppy limited release Session IPA from Blackrocks Brewery.
• Porch Cat Hoppy limited release Pale Ale from Blackrocks Brewery.
• Ray's Fiesta Time Limited release Mexican-style Lager from Blackrocks Brewery.
• Float Copper Limited release Amber Lager with tropical and fruity hop notes, available February–April from Blackrocks Brewery.
• Oktoberfest German-style Märzen lager brewed by Blackrocks Brewery, available September–November as part of the Oktoberfest season.
• Sauna Lager Pub-exclusive dry, light-ABV American Lager sold only at the Blackrocks taproom in 6-pack form.
• Day Groover Non-alcoholic sparkling hop water offering crisp bubbles with a citrus/guava hop profile, available year-round from Blackrocks Brewery.
• Coconut Brown Coconut Brown specialty limited release from Blackrocks Brewery, returning as a statewide distribution release.
• Wildcat Gold Golden lager brewed in collaboration with the NMU Alumni Association, with proceeds supporting NMU outdoor recreation programs.
• Mug Club 2.0 Membership Annual Mug Club 2.0 membership for $50 per year (after a $50 initial handmade ceramic mug), granting dedicated mug storage and community benefits at the pub.
• Blackrocks Goods Merchandise Branded brewery apparel and merchandise sold through the online Blackrocks Goods store and in the Marquette pub.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NMU Alumni AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2025Annual collaboration on Wildcat Gold Lager, brewed in partnership with Northern Michigan University Alumni Association. A portion of the proceeds from Wildcat Gold sales are donated back to NMU to help students access outdoor recreation programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Founders Brewing Co. Grand Rapids, MI craft brewery and major national craft brand. Comparable Michigan craft roots and taproom presence, but significantly larger production scale and national distribution footprint.
• Bell's Brewery: One of the largest Michigan craft breweries (Comstock/Kalamazoo), now part of Lion. Comparable core category (Michigan craft beer), but materially larger scale, broader geographic distribution, and a far deeper brand portfolio.

Direct peers

• Short's Brewing Company: Michigan craft brewer (Bellaire, MI) with a pub and broader distribution. Highly comparable on craft portfolio diversity, seasonal/limited release cadence, and community-driven branding.
• HopCat: Michigan-originated craft beer bar chain with multiple locations across the Midwest. Comparable in centering the customer experience around a wide craft beer selection and strong event/community programming.
• Atwater Brewery: Detroit, MI craft brewery operating taprooms and distributing across the Midwest. Comparable Michigan craft identity with multiple on-premise locations and a broad year-round portfolio.
• Perrin Brewing Company: Comstock Park, MI craft brewery with taproom and distribution across the Midwest. Comparable production scale and Michigan craft positioning with multi-state distribution.
• New Holland Brewing: Holland, MI-based craft brewery with brewpubs and spirits production. Comparable in combining on-premise hospitality with broader Michigan distribution and a broad SKU portfolio.
• Stormcloud Brewing Company: Frankenmuth, MI craft brewery operating a brewpub with full kitchen. Comparable as a Michigan craft producer with a taproom-first model; differs from Blackrocks in operating an owned kitchen rather than relying on food trucks.
• Keweenaw Brewing Company: Independent craft brewery based in Houghton, MI, also serving Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Comparable geography, small-batch craft model with taproom presence, and regional distribution footprint.
• Ore Dock Brewing Company: Craft brewery and taproom also located in Marquette, MI. Directly comparable in terms of Upper Michigan location, brewpub format, small-to-mid production scale, and community-focused brand identity. Most relevant local competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackrocks-brewery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blackrocks Brewery